Ruben Amorim accepts he and his Man Utd squad are currently ‘underperforming’

United face Real Sociedad in the Europa League round-of-16 second leg at Old Trafford on Thursday night, with the tie poised at 1-1.

UNDERPERFORMING: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has defended his players (Bradley Collyer/PA)

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim accepted he and his squad were currently “underperforming” after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had said some of the club’s players were “not good enough” and “some probably are overpaid”.

The British billionaire, who took charge of footballing operations at United in February last year, referenced Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, plus Jadon Sancho and Antony – who are both on loan – as he spoke about players “that we didn’t buy in” during a wide-ranging interview with the BBC.